Lao construction companies to benefit from planned railway
Twenty Lao companies will be selected as sub-contractors for construction work on the almost-US$6 billion railway that will link Vientiane to the Chinese border. But these companies must be sub-contracted by Chinese companies, who will supervise their work and provide technical assistance to ensure high quality workmanship. Director of the Laos-China Railway construction project and Director of the Lao National Railway Company, DrKoung Souk-Aloun, told Vientiane Times on September 15. We will try to ensure that this multi-billion project benefits local companies as well. The tasks that require very high technology, such as drilling tunnels, will of course need to be given to Chinese companies. But work that involves soil levelling, concrete and other processes that do not require advanced technology can be granted to Lao companies, he added. Lao authorities are committed to working with the Chinese to ensure that work that can be undertaken by Lao companies will be allocated to them.
